High suited connector
Nine-Eight Suited
98s is the highest hand in this group and plays more like a broad suited connector than a low speculative hand. It makes stronger pairs, higher straights, and more credible late-position opens than 87s. It still loses value when forced to continue out of position against a tight range.
How to play 98s by position and stack size
| Recommended action | UTG8-max | UTG18-max | LJ6-max | HJ6-max | CO6-max | BTN6-max | SB6-max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100bb+ | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Limp |
| 40-100bb | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Limp |
| 27-40bb | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| 20-26bb | Fold | Fold | Open | Open | Open | Open | Limp |
| 16-19bb | Fold | Fold | Open | Open | Open | Open | Jam |
| 11-15bb | Fold | Fold | Fold | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| 7-10bb | Jam | Jam | Jam | Jam | Jam | Jam | Limp |
| 6bb- | Fold | Fold | Jam | Jam | Jam | Jam | Jam |
Its higher card value supports early opens as well as late-position play, while the Small Blind can mix open and limp. the exact line set by the stack band.
It can apply more postflop pressure than 65s, but it is not a default 3-bet. an open that folds enough to pressure.
The higher pair value and straight coverage improve realization, particularly at medium and deep stacks.
With depth, preserving postflop play is usually the reason to enter the pot. ICM context support an all-in.
A pair of nines or eights can still be dominated by higher kickers and overpairs. short stack with no maneuvering room.
Strong against
97s shares the Nine but has the weaker kicker, making a dominated pair that can still pay 98s.
Weak against
A9sA9s shares the Nine with the better kicker, so 98s can make a costly second-best pair.
Flop classes
On T♣ 7♦ 6♥, 98s makes the ten-high straight. Higher connected cards can still create a redraw on later streets.
On T♠ 6♦ 2♣, 98s has a gutshot through a seven to make 6-7-8-9-T. It is not open-ended.
On A♠ 7♦ 2♣, 9♠ 8♠ has a backdoor flush draw. It needs two more spades, so calling it a direct flush draw would be incorrect.
Strategic notes
- Defend more often in position than the lower connectors when the sizing and effective depth support postflop play.
- From the Big Blind, price still matters. A tight 3-bet range leaves fewer dominated hands to target and increases the cost of a weak pair.
- Fold to most 4-bets. 98s is playable, but it does not have enough value against the range that continues after another raise.
- 98s may flop a made straight or a gutshot depending on how many middle ranks are on the board. Separate a made straight from a draw before choosing a value or semi-bluff line.
- 98s has only a backdoor flush route with one matching board card. It needs two matching board cards for a direct draw, and its flush is not the nut flush.